Causes and recurrence risk of perinatal loss

Type Journal Article - Gomal Journal of Medical Sciences
Title Causes and recurrence risk of perinatal loss
Author(s)
Volume 14
Issue 3
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2017
Page numbers 160-163
URL http://gjms.com.pk/ojs2x/index.php/gjms/article/view/1508
Abstract
Background: Perinatal death refers to death of fetus or newborn around the time of delivery and includes both
fetal deaths (at least 20 weeks of gestation) and early neonatal deaths. The purpose of this study was to determine
the risk of perinatal loss when previous pregnancy ended up in stillbirth or early neonatal death.
Material & Methods: This record based descriptive cross sectional study was conducted in Departments of
Obstetrics and Gynecology, Liaquat University Hospital, Jamshoro and Hyderabad, Pakistan from September 1,
2016 to September 30, 2016. All women who had singleton pregnancies of 24 weeks or above and suffered a
perinatal death were included in the study. Age, residence and parity were the demographic variables. Research
variables were; gestational age, mode of delivery, obstetric outcome, risk factors of perinatal deaths in preceding
pregnancy, risk factor of perinatal deaths in present pregnancy and recurrence risk.
Results: During the study period there were 5834 obstetric admissions out of which 4752 were cases of deliveries
and from these 660 cases were of perinatal deaths (perinatal mortality rate 140/1000 deliveries). In total there were
557 stillbirths and 103 early neonatal deaths cases. There were 170 women who had history of perinatal loss in
preceding pregnancies, giving a recurrence risk of 25.76%. Sample size was 170 women who had a perinatal
loss and who had history of perinatal death in preceding pregnancy either stillbirths or early neonatal death.
The mean age of women was 31.5+ 6.0 years with age range of 20 to 34 years. In the study sample caesarean
section deliveries were 64.12% while vaginal route deliveries were 35.88%.
Conclusion: Women with previous perinatal loss are at significant risk of recurrent fetal or neonatal death.
Prospective studies should be carried out to find out interventions that can significantly reduce the recurrence risk.

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